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The Open Office Is Destroying the Workplace
HughPickens.com writes: Lindsey Kaufman reports in the WaPo that despite its obvious problems, the open-office model has continued to encroach on workers across the country, with about 70 percent of U.S. offices having no or low partitions. Silicon Valley has led the way — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg enlisted famed architect Frank Gehry to design the largest open floor plan in the world, housing nearly 3,000 engineers within a single room that stretches 10 acres. Michael Bloomberg was another early adopter of the open-space trend, saying it promoted transparency and fairness. Bosses love the ability to keep a closer eye on their employees, ensuring clandestine porn-watching, constant social media-browsing and unlimited personal cellphone use isn't occupying billing hours.
But according to Kaufman, employers are getting a false sense of improved productivity. A 2013 study showed many workers in open offices are frustrated by distractions that lead to poorer work performance. Nearly half of the surveyed workers in open offices said the lack of sound privacy was a significant problem, and more than 30 percent complained about the lack of visual privacy. The New Yorker, in a review of research on this nouveau workplace design, determined that the benefits in building camaraderie simply mask the negative effects on work performance.
While employees feel like they're part of a laid-back, innovative enterprise, the environment ultimately damages workers' attention spans, productivity, creative thinking, and satisfaction says Kaufman. "Though multitasking millennials seem to be more open to distraction as a workplace norm, the wholehearted embrace of open offices may be ingraining a cycle of underperformance in their generation," writes Maria Konnikova. "They enjoy, build, and proselytize for open offices, but may also suffer the most from them in the long run."
But according to Kaufman, employers are getting a false sense of improved productivity. A 2013 study showed many workers in open offices are frustrated by distractions that lead to poorer work performance. Nearly half of the surveyed workers in open offices said the lack of sound privacy was a significant problem, and more than 30 percent complained about the lack of visual privacy. The New Yorker, in a review of research on this nouveau workplace design, determined that the benefits in building camaraderie simply mask the negative effects on work performance.
While employees feel like they're part of a laid-back, innovative enterprise, the environment ultimately damages workers' attention spans, productivity, creative thinking, and satisfaction says Kaufman. "Though multitasking millennials seem to be more open to distraction as a workplace norm, the wholehearted embrace of open offices may be ingraining a cycle of underperformance in their generation," writes Maria Konnikova. "They enjoy, build, and proselytize for open offices, but may also suffer the most from them in the long run."
*uninstalls OpenOffice and installs a crazy outdated version of StarOffice*
Milton: I was told that I could play my radio at a reasonable volume...
Web browsing on company time is a self correcting problem. It's accepted (at least where I work) that quick breaks throughout the day are almost a necessity. I usually do so when I get hung up or frustrated by something. A quick glance through any one of several sites I frequent gives my brain a break, and then I find I can get back at it.
Last year I spent a few months working on site for a client that has a zero tolerance policy for personal use of internet. When I learned about this I was horrified and almost declined the contract, but as soon as I started working there I found out that not only did my productivity improve, my general mood also improved. Hours flew by even if the project was not that interesting. At the end of the day I had more energy, and I also took more pleasure in non-work activities in the evening.
I am not kidding. Try it for a week: no personal email, no personal web browsing, no funnies, nothing like that during business hours (including the phone). Also cut the chitchat and the gossiping around the watercooler (or espresso machine). You won't believe how better you will feel. It's almost zen.
lucm, indeed.
I think one of these would be helpful in an open work space.
Perhaps this should be obligatory
"His name was James Damore."
I don't get it.
I have to work "when people are generally in the building", because my job is to support their work. Getting on a plane, going home, or even disappearing for three hours isn't going to cut it. I'm expected to be calm, responsive and able to be productive with the rest of the group.
I'm not part of this hipstwitter generation. I'm not allowed to provide twee service to one person at a time and still be proud of myself.
*twee: one special person at a time service. In the simplest scenario, you arrive at cafe Twee to get a coffee to go. The person in front of you orders NY strip with eggs, and you get 25 minutes standing alone with your thoughts while the special snowflakes chat. Then you get you 48 seconds of special service for that cup of coffee the hipster bitch could have poured 26 minutes ago. People that take a trip, go home, or hide in a dark corner to program are like that twee service. Unaware of work that could be done in seconds because they are raising the cow from birth to make steak and eggs.
This is good whiskey. I started this post coherent and ended it upset at the local cafe.
there was one large room with 80 engineers.
Only 80? In Everett, we had about 400 in one room (a big f*cking room).
We used to call people who sat some distance away rather than walk over. The etiquette was to turn and face each other across a few hundred feet while conversing on the phone. On more than one occasion, I'd crack up the person I was talking to by whipping out a pair of binoculars.
Have gnu, will travel.
I have lived, and worked, in nine countries, including Asia, Europe, and Central America.
I might be more inclined to believe you if you didn't call Asia, Europe and Central America countries.
well you could burn the place down.
Only 5% on useless meetings? Nirvana!